Carrier PROs
Carrier PROs are numbers assigned by the carrier that are used on a BOL to track a shipment.
Not all carriers automatically assign PROs during the shipping process in FreightPOP. Some don't have the technology to pass PRO numbers because there is no API (automated) connection. Other carriers have automated connections but still don’t pass the PRO numbers at the time of shipping.
It’s important to have a PRO because that is what the FreightPOP application uses to track a shipment with a carrier. If there is no PRO number, FreightPOP can’t track the shipment.
If no PRO number is available, the section of the BOL where it would normally appear will remain blank. In the transaction in FreightPOP, the PRO number will be replaced by a placeholder number issued that starts with FRTPOP-XXXXX. This is just a placeholder and will not track a shipment with this.
Customers have a couple of options when carriers do not provide PRO numbers. One of the options is to not do anything and have FreightPOP issue that FRTPOP-XXXX placeholder number. The problem with that is that FreightPOP will not be able to track that shipment with that number. Customers who opt for this will have the carriers issue the PRO number sticker when the shipment is picked up. The carriers will add that PRO number sticker in the section left blank when there is no PRO number. It is recommended to go back into FreightPOP and change the FRTPOP-XXXX placeholder number with the actual PRO the carrier assigned when they picked it up. If that is done, then FreightPOP can start tracking the shipment.
** Note that if your account has data going back to the ERP at the time of shipping, if the carrier does not assign PRO numbers, when the data goes back to the ERP, the system will send the FRTPOP-XXXX placeholder number. **
There is a second option for when a carrier does not automatically assign PROs through the API or does not have an API implemented. Users have the option to upload an unused block of PROs within the Carrier Management page.
If there are PROs uploaded to an API carrier that does return PROs, the uploaded PROs will take precedence and be applied to shipments, instead of the PROs returned from the carrier. If the carrier does not provide PROs, the uploaded PROs will be used up at the time of shipping. To the users, it will seem like the carrier assigns it via the API. IT becomes transparent to them.
This requires the account holder to contact the carrier and get a block of PROs assigned to upload into the FreightPOP carrier account. It is recommended that the account holder contacts their carrier rep to get help with this. Carriers will email the list of PROs to upload into FreightPOP once they have been assigned.
If any carriers have PROs uploaded this way, when the number of PROs falls below 50, each time the users log in, there will be a message that shows the carriers that are running low on PROs. See the example below.
Once the list of PROs has been received, use the instructions below to upload the PROs into the FreightPOP carrier account.
- Navigate to the carrier page, find the carrier account and click on the Click the blue Edit Pencil Icon for the selected carrier.
Then click the Carrier PROs Tab. Click the blue + icon to download the template and upload the list of PROs.
- Once you have opened the template, you can fill in the column “Preassigned AWB/Pro Number” with your PRO numbers. The “Broker_SCAC_Code” is only required for broker carriers who will need to differentiate which carrier will utilize the PRO.
- Save the updated file somewhere on your computer. Make sure to rename the file so it no longer has “Template” in the title. You can click on the Choose File button to select it from your computer
- Once the file has been uploaded, click on the Save button. You should now see the PROs listed within the Carrier PROs window.
